LAS VEGAS — Far from the hysteria of March Madness, its billion-dollar television deal and its sold-out stadiums, the largely empty arena at the Mandalay Bay Events Center this week reverberated with the sounds of bouncing basketballs, squeaking sneakers and coaches’ loud, sometimes profane exhortations.
Standing behind the Oakland University bench Tuesday night, a fan cheered loudly as he roamed the empty aisles, shouting instructions in the direction of Coach Greg Kampe, in his 31st season leading Oakland. In the huddle after play was stopped following a loose-ball scramble, Kampe asked who had called the timeout. The fan, Craig Kadden, roared, “I called the timeout.